8N Front tranny oil seal Replacement

Many times members of this board have suggested also replacing the tranny front seal while it is split. There is no evidence of tranny oil leakage, old clutch disc was completely dry. I have studied my FO-4 and can't tell for sure whether a bearing or spacer may drop into the tranny if I pull the front nose housing with input shaft in it. I did buy the new front seal, but it did not come with a nose housing gasket which probably affects the bearing end loading. I do not want to mess up the tranny by dropping something into the depths of the soup, and worse yet, not knowing that something has dropped and just awaits its turn to jump up between rotating gears some day.

Part of me says "if it ain't leaking, don't mess with it", and the other part of me says "you'd be a fool to put it together without replacing that seal". Thus I'm a total mess...oh well, I have had worse problems (or "issues").

Your thoughts, please.

Thank You,

Paul in MN

Yup, that is the info I needed before tearing into that front shaft housing. Thanks for the details and the encouragement.

Thanks also to Dan and Bob for the encouragement and quick replies.

The new seal will be in place later this afternoon.

Paul in MN

Paul - if you are replacing the throwout bearing and pilot bearing as a matter of course - then I know you ALREADY know the answer to your question...

Dan

Measure the thickness of the old gasket(s) vs. what your're putting back in, just to be sure.